"I don't understand why I even have to be here." the boy spat out, walking along side his guardian with clenched fists inside his cameo shorts pockets.

"We're here because you have a problem, Naruto." The man repeated, disinterestedly, for the hundredth time today.

"Iruka, I-"

"Just, save it Naruto, please." He sighed out, pinching the space between his eyes.

Naruto looked at him, sadness visible on his face. He knew he'd disappointed Iruka so much that he shouldn't have the nerve to argue with him, but this was serious. Was he really being sent to a rehab facility for weed? Hopefully Ashton Kutcher would pop out with a camera crew so he could go home, take a hit, and go to sleep. Usually people go to these kinds of places for, shall we say, more 'hardcore' substances. A little pot never killed anyone, but you couldn't convince Iruka of this.

They preceded their walk in an awkward silence. Naruto cursed under his breath at the 50ft march of shame that lead to the building. Why the hell did those idiots place that godforsaken building so far away from the parking lot? He found himself shuffling his feet at a pathetic attempt to prolong the inevitable. God how he wished Iruka hadn't found him high.

Still walking, and only a few feet to go, Naruto thought he'd turn on his loveable charm to somehow back from out of the corner he was in.

"Hey, Iruka I-"

"Don't even try it, Naruto." The man deadpanned; his usual happiness and forgiveness disappearing from his voice.

Naruto winced from his guardian's depressed tone.

"How come Kiba doesn't have to come?"

He smokes just as much as I do…

"Because I'm in charge of you, not Kiba. His parents obviously don't see a problem with what he does or with his behavior, but I intend to help you as best I can."

He's serious about this…

The duo walked through the sliding glass doors into the shockingly sterile looking facility. Iruka pointed him to what looked like the waiting area as he talked to a woman at the front desk.

Naruto sighed for the umpteenth time this morning. So this was gonna be his 'new home' for as long as it took for him to get better? Well they might as well give him his own room and a personal parking space because he was gonna be here for a while. He'd been smoking since he was 13, 4 years of smooth hits and blissful thoughts. He was so calm and relaxed when he was high, why'd Iruka have to take that away from him? Cannabis did more for him then Ritalin could sure as hell do.

"Naruto?"

Naruto spun around defensively; as if he was 12 again and Iruka had caught him stealing cookies from the bakery bin. Though, noticing the sad expression on Iruka's face made his heart drop to his stomach in an instant. He had tears in his eyes that he wouldn't let fall, yet he put on a sad smile to lessen Naruto's fears.

"I'll visit you as much as I can. You'll do fine. Promise me you'll try?" Iruka choked out, placing a firm hand on Naruto's shoulder. It seemed like only yesterday he was hardly up to his shoulders, now he was just as tall as he was.

Naruto bowed his head, unable to look at the man that might as well be called his father this way. "I promise, Iruka. I'm sor-"

"Don't…just do well." He breathed, his eyes softening.

Naruto swallowed hard at his words.

'Just do well'…He always tells me this. Every time I'd screw up, he'd look at me and tell me to 'do well' next time. I'm tired of being such a fuckup and a disappointment to him…

"I will." He stated confidently, snapping his neck up to stare into the eyes of the man.

"That's all I ask, son…"

Enter Ze Uzumaki :)

I wonder whose next…

Please R&R if you like it